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On 5/23/2015 5:56 PM, Samuel L wrote:
> What would you recommend as a non-electronic gadget to help identify
> stars? The Rude or Weems 2102-D or something else?

First a correction to my post. it's the winter hexagon, not the winter
octagon.

I cannot disagree with the recommendations for the Rude or Celestaire's
star map. I have both. But for looking up at the night sky and
learning the stars I would still go with The Night Sky. It shows stars
etc, not on Rudes that are useful stepping stones to finding other
stars. For example the handle of the big dipper. "Follow the arc to
Arcturus then speed to Spica." (BTW Arcturus is my favorite star. It
looks like shimmers kike a diamond to me, and is part of Bootes--the ice
cream cone.) The two stars in the handle side of the cup are pointers to
Regulus (Leo). The two stars on the outside of the cup are pointers to
Polaris.

The navigation stars and others of the winter hexagon are a breeze to
learn. Orion's belt stands out in the night sky. Above it is Betelgeuse
(ninth brightest star in the sky). Think of it as the top of a cross and
the bottom point is Rigel. Clockwise the next star, Sirius (Canis
Major), the brightest star in the sky. Next is Procyon (Canis minor).
Then the Gemini twins, Pollux and Castor. Next is Capella (Auriga).
Completing the hexagon is Aldebaran, the eye of the bull (Taurus). Tough
to misidentify as it is a red giant and appears yellow (to me). It is
also close to The Pleiades, an open cluster visible to the naked eye.
Its all mapped out with "connect the dots" dots lines to make learning
easier.

My mnemonic for keeping the "P" and "C" stars straight is a follows. The
"P" stars are together, as are the "C" stars. The shortest P and C names
are together.

The summer triangle (Vega, Altair and Deneb) is also mapped out.

To me the choice comes down your intended use. Do you want to see the
big picture, look up at a night sky and be able to navigate your way
through the stars; or do you want to drill down, dial in the LHA Aries and
see (roughly) the altitude and azimuth of the navigational stars,
possibly to plan for a two or three star fix?

I have both, but started with "The Night Sky." If I recall it became the
standard for Sky & Telescope in 1967 I(could be wrong on that one). At
approximately $10 on Amazon it's a bargain. Given the price of a Rude
these days, buy both. 10 bucks extra for a planisphere is chicken feed :-)

It also available at:
http://www.davidchandler.com/product-category/planispheres_star-charts/plastic/

   

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